Mudslide death toll reaches new high

posted by Newser Editors and Wire Services
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2 years ago

UPDATE: Officials say the death toll in the Washington state mudslide has been raised to 28. Officials say the remains of 22 victims have now been positively identified. Twenty-two people are still listed as missing as a result of the March 22nd slide.

(NEWSER) – The official death toll from Washington's mudslide has increased to 27, with the Snohomish County medical examiner's office saying 19 victims have been positively identified. That's up from 24 dead with 18 identified yesterday. The latest name to the list is 58-year-old Brandy L. Ward of Arlington. Like the rest of the victims, she was killed by blunt force injuries in the March 22 slide. Workers are trying to improve the flow of the Stillaguamish River through the landslide at Oso to reduce flooding as they continue the grim task of recovering bodies.